Sokka and Azula were both quite nervous standing on the palace balcony flanking Zuko on either side. Katara and Aang stood a ways behind Zuko but were still visible. Katara wasn't exactly ecstatic to be in this position, but she had to support her brother. He would likely be speaking before thousands in just a few moments.

"Greetings people of the fire nation!" Zuko's voice boomed, the venue was perfect for echoing his voice. Sokka was impressed at the ridiculous amount of thought they put into the royal palace. When Zuko spoke the crowd became silent and knelt. "You may rise."

"I have called you forth today because I have a very special announcement. Do you feel as though your royal adviser has been doing an admirable job? He is just as responsible for the improvements to the nation since the war as I am. If you like what he has been doing you may applaud now." Zuko smirked at Sokka and placed a hand on his shoulder as the crowd became thunderous. Of course they loved him. He had come up with several ideas to turn the military equipment into things usable for normal citizens. He even made something called a fridge that forever changed their lives. Zuko felt it was enough and waved his hand palm down in a chopping motion. Sokka was amazed at how quickly they were silenced. "Many of you have also heard that the princess has returned. Our grand adviser personally tended to her until her mind was healed, but that is not all. I will allow the princess to speak. To show what I have said is true."

Azula stepped forward, she had a legitimate non creepy smile. "What our dear Fire Lord says is true, but it is not why you were brought here today." murmurs began in the crowd, Azula waited a few seconds before silencing them, "As we all know now that Ozai is not corrupting information, of the surviving nations the water tribe was hit the hardest. Specifically the southern water tribe. Before the war they numbered in tens, perhaps even hundreds of thousands. They even had towns, but Sozin leveled them and attempted the genocide that succeeded against the air nomads against the Southern water tribe as well." The crowd became even more deathly silent, a few people were shedding tears. "Fear not! It is a new era, and the fire nation is fully supporting the reconstruction of the southern water tribe. Although this is not simple generosity. We are one. We are connected. Partners." Azula grabbed Sokka's hand as Zuko stepped back. From there their fingers intertwined and the crowd was slowly realizing the true meaning behind the words. Sokka kissed the back of her hand and finally spoke.

"Our love has transcended borders, it has transcended hate, and It has transcended war. Princess Azula is now my betrothed." Sokka looked at her and his heart just melted away as the crowd roared. It was not in the script they had prepared but Sokka pulled her close and gave her a quick peck on the lips. The crowd erupted which caused Azula to grin during their short kiss. The trio then turned and waved for a generous amount of time before re entering the palace. The crowd could still be heard, although they would all be dispersed within a couple of hours.

"Well that was fun." Azula said. Katara's huff made it obvious she felt to the contrary. As usual.

Katara looked at Sokka with her giant baby blue eyes and held his hands. "Sokka, there's no going back now. The entire world is going to know within two weeks at most. I really hope this is what you want."

"Azula isn't just what I want. She's what I need. She completes me."

Zuko looked at Katara and Aang. "I'm sorry if this is rude, but would you mind leaving the two parts of Sokka with me for a few minutes. I have to ask for a favor."

Aang bowed "Yes your hotmanness."

Zuko facepalmed as they left the room. He wondered if past fire lords got this little respect.

"Yes brother? Is something wrong? I thought the announcement went quite well."

"No, that actually went better than I ever could have hoped. Even if I had reservations at first."

"As I said it would."

Zuko performed an action that shocked both Azula and Sokka and took her hands in his. Since the day she was allowed back within the palace they had been friendly, familial even, but touchy feely wasn't their thing.

"Azula, this wedding just made me think of something important, to me at least. I want you to keep in mind that this is not an order as firelord, this is a request as your brother since I know together you and Sokka can do it."

"We can do anything brother. Name it."

"I need you to find our mother."

Azula stood before the hall leading to her father's cell. She was frozen in place. Of course she agreed to Zuko's request. Despite how soft he was and his own words she still saw him as firelord first and her brother second. The position deserved respect. Although on some level she wanted to do this for her brother. He allowed Sokka to enter her life in the first place, he allowed her to stay in the palace when she snuck in, and he allowed them to be together with no pressure, politics, or drama. This is the least she could do for him.

Although she wanted to do this for her brother, she simply couldn't. Her legs would not move, her mouth would not open. She didn't understand what this feeling was. She assumed it was fear. She never thought much before she was released from the asylum. Sure, she always thought in a tactical sense, or in the capacity of "What does father wish for me to say or do at this moment to please him", never about self preservation though. She was simply a tool, a weapon. She was a complete failure even when it came to communicating with other highborns.

At this moment she was wishing she had not told Sokka to stay behind. Whenever she was confused he always seemed to know what to say or do. When she didn't understand her emotions, he did. She thought something like this could have happened but she did not want him to see her this way. He deserved better. She was no longer the sick weakly woman he saved all those months ago. She was his betrothed, his princess, his fire. Is that what he would want though? Her father had beaten that lesson into her, literally. Weakness is never to be displayed, and if someone sees you at a weak point all they should see in the future is how far your strength has increased.

Sokka once told her he was not like "that bastard." in his own words. She bore a slight smirk at that. He was lowborn for sure, but his love and care for her was true. She doubted a highborn would treat her better. No highborn she knew besides herself could bring a nation to its knees with a group of children. She thought she had made a mistake in coming here without him, she simply was not strong enough yet. Zuko put no time frame on this and the wedding she is to attend does not even have a date set, maybe if she trained this set of emotions….

Azula's thoughts were cut short when she felt a pair of arms methodically wrap around her midsection and a chin rest on her shoulder. She didn't react. She knew who it was, and was happy that he had not listened to her. It was all but confirmed when she looked down and saw the arms of Royal robes wrapped around her.

"My princess, are you alright?"

She took a split second to calm herself. "Yes, I am fine Sokka. I was just about to enter my father's chamber to ask him some questions. You may join me if you wish. Apologies for dragging you into this." Azula attempted to take a step but was held firmly in place. She closed her eyes and drew a deep breath. She was aware of the conversation that was about to unfold, and she would not harm him to remove his grip simply for caring about her.

"Azula, I've given you one order consistently since we started dating. What was it?"

Azula didn't bother cracking any jokes this time. His voice was calm, sweet, and concerned, yet forceful. "I believe it was for me to never apologize for feeling weak or telling you how I feel. Correct?" She assumed the light kiss on the back of her head was a response in the affirmative. "What have I done this time Sokka?"

"I've been watching you stand here for the past thirty minutes. You said you could handle this alone. You had no reason to lie to me. So why?"

Azula closed her eyes. "Sokka, how do you see me?"

"Uh. Beautiful, smart, scary, sweet, cunning. I could go on for a while. Why?"

"That is what you see me as now, but you saw me at my weakest and most fragile just a few months ago. I didn't wish for you to see me grow weaker in front of my father which is a possibility. Your feelings may have wavered."

"My feelings for you will never waver." Sokka nuzzled his cheek into her hair so he could speak lowly directly into her ear. "My feelings for you could never waver."

She smirked. "I'm afraid they may have from a pathetic display such as this."

"Azula, do you see me as weak?"

Azula's brow furrowed. Even while he was her enemy she never saw him as weak. He looked like quite the bumbling fool next to his friends, but his friends were some of the best benders on the planet and the avatar. He made many a platoon of guards look like children. While he could not keep up with her in combat then, combat was not the only way to be strong. His tactical mind was rare to be sure, likely sharper than hers she would say. He also made the kill counts of his friends look like childs play in comparison. Fire nation troops still spoke of him to this day as a shadow of death. If he can't best you in combat he will best you in wits.

"I would say I do not perceive you as weak and never have."

"Did Zuko tell you anything about my mother?"

"Simply that if I wished to keep you I should not delve too deep into the subject." Sokka held her more tightly, Azula raised her handsome they were resting on his forearms. She always felt at home within his grasp. He then lightly chuckled.

"Let's just say you aren't the only person with a trigger."

She made sure to trace her thumbs along his arms while she spoke. They both knew what she was doing in terms of manipulation, but neither cared. "May I ask?"

"My princess can ask anything she wants."

"What does your mother have to do with your trigger? And how does that apply to my situation at this moment?"

"Well, from the little you know about my dad, and how I turned out, you probably realize he wasn't harsh enough to banish or kill her."

"Yes..."

"She was killed almost six years ago by the southern raiders. After her death I was never able to enter the tent she was killed in again. I tried to get over it several times but it just never happened. Every time I tried going in I just became frozen at the flap. Then as if it was happening at that exact moment I would hear her screams as she was being burned alive, while I was just hiding in another igloo pathetically."

"You were twelve, what could you have done against a bender powerful enough to become a commander with no form of training?" Azula said matter of factl.

Sokka lowered his hands to her midriff. "Logic doesn't dictate that part of our minds Azula. It's okay to be scared, it's okay to have moments of weakness like this where you need help to get through it. These feelings might be foreign to you but I'll be right here by your side."

Azula felt as if the weight that was holding her down had been lifted. "I'm ready"

They walked down the hall and stopped in front of Ozai's cell. Azula motioned for Sokka to stay outside, he looked disappointed but listened to her command. Before he let her go he raised her hand and kissed the back off it. She sent him one of the smiles she knew he loved and he looked like his heart would almost explode. Her fool was truly adorable.

As soon as she entered the room the figure within the cell lifted his head. As she began to see his face her heart rate increased and she once again froze. His hair fell back and a smirk began to form on his face.

"Hello my daughter, it is nice to see that you have been freed from your bonds."

"Hello father."

"Have you come to discuss plans for our ascension? I knew no asylum or prison could hold you once your mind returned. Until that day I laid in wait."

"Father…."

"I should have killed your embarrassment of a brother. He was weak and pathetic."

"Father…."

"Once I am free and my bending is returned I will reduce his body to ash, but not before I have him beheaded so I can have his head placed on a pike."

"FATHER!"

Ozai chuckled to himself. "Forgive me daughter. I have been envisioning what is to come since I fell from the throne. Now, release me. We have much to plan."

"Father…..I am not here to free you."

"Ah, have you already formed a plan? I have taught you well. Releasing me now could raise alarms so I understand."

"No father, you do not understand. I am here on behalf of the fire lord. He wishes to know the location of his mother."

Ozai's smirk slowly slipped away as the realization of what was happening entered his mind. His confusion soon turned to rage, but he could not form any words. He always thought there was a small possibility of his daughter taking the throne for herself instead of freeing him, but this was something else altogether. He sat while looking at the ground glassy eyed, seething.

"The fire lord is feeling gracious and is willing to discuss terms for a more comfortable cell once this information is given. If you prove yourself you may be able to gain a modicum of freedo…."

Ozai pounced on the cell doors and wrapped his hands around the bars. The cell let out a loud rabble. Azula jumped. "YOU INCOMPETENT BUFFOON! YOU SERVE THAT WEAKLING!? HAVE I TAUGHT YOU NOTHING!?"

Azula felt very small in that moment, she felt as if she was losing her breath. She was hardly able to stand and had to lean against the wall to maintain her balance. She spoke almost as a mouse. "He just wants…."

"I DON'T CARE WHAT HE WANTS! HE IS NOTHING BUT A FAILURE! YOU DARE FOLLOW THAT INCOMPETENT FOOL AND MAKE REQUESTS OF ME!?"

"That wasn't a request."

Ozai turned and saw a familiar looking water tribesman standing in the doorway. The very same boy that had mocked him when he had failed to become phoenix king. He walked over to Azula and took her hand, she had a strange look in her eye. It had familiarity, it had emotion, it held love.

"You disgrace our bloodline by bedding a water tribesman?"

Azula once again looked at the ground. Sokka held her in a tight embrace then began to whisper to her while ignore the snide remarks coming from Ozai. "You are my princess. You are strong. You are smart. You are beautiful. I will always love you. Do not be afraid."

"My daughter, my blood, bedding a filthy peasant. You are both failures."

Sokka turned to Ozai while keeping Azula inside of his chest and stroking her hair. He became enraged. "Now, as I was saying. That was not a request from your firelord. That was an order. He was being kind by offering you better accommodations for this exchange of information. You will comply with his demands."

"If these are orders from our dear firelord I expect him to come see me himself." His tone was clearly full of sarcasm and disdain. He intended to tell Zuko nothing,

Sokka looked him in his eye, his gaze piercing. "When the fire lord is not present I am his voice, I am his ears, and I am his command. Anything I say is as good as his word. You will tell me about his mother. And you will not speak to my princess in that manner."

"I will tell you nothing, peasant. You are nothing." Ozai fixed his eyes on Azula. Although he could only see the back of her head as Sokka kept her firmly buried within his chest. "And you. This disgusts me Azula. I molded you, I taught you everything you know, I made you who you are. I did not teach you to be weak. I did not teach you to lie with peasants."

"She's not your weapon anymore asshole lord." Sokka kissed the top of her head while rocking her slightly.

Ozai sneered. "What is she then, peasant? Besides a crazy, broken, tool."

"Azula, would you leave us for a moment? I need to have a discussion with your father about how he should speak to his princess."

"No."

Sokka thought he misheard as she was muffled by his chest. "Huh?"

"I said no. I will tell him exactly what I am." Azula signaled for Sokka to release her and he did as she was told. Ozai's face became serious and emotionless. "I am Azula, crown princess of the fire nation. I am the betrothed of Sokka, son of High Chief Hakoda of the southern water tribe, and Advisor to the firelord. I am the Pai Sho master that took Ba Sing Se as a child with no force or bloodshed at all, while her supposedly all powerful father sat on his throne waiting, and watching. I am the girl who's mind was corrupted and broken due to the pressure and beatings from her father. Lastly, I will be your executioner if you continue to cross me."

Sokka smiled at his scary but beautiful fiance. Ozai could do nothing but grit his teeth. "If you kill me you have nothing to bring to your precious fire lord. For all your maneuvering, I have the leverage. I have nothing to lose. I do not fear death."

Azula grew a sadistic smirk, Ozai flinched. She walked over to Sokka and rubbed his cheek. "My love, I know you would not be fool enough to not carry a weapon at all times. Please give me your dagger and stand in the hall."

Sokka grabbed her hand. He knew what she was going to do. "Azula, I will not leave your side."

"You must. If you see the monster I truly am you will no longer love me. I,,,,,I enjoy the pain of others."

"Azula, I already know who you are, and I already said I would not leave your side. I meant that." Sokka gave her his dagger from the sleeve of his robe. "I also knew this was a possibility so I grabbed a copy of the key to the cell before I found you. I'm with you Azula, even for the scary parts."

Azula gave him a quick peck. "My Sokka."

When they turned back to Ozai he had a deadpan expression. Torture he could understand, being lovey dovey about his torture...not so much. Within the next five minutes Ozai's screams could be heard throughout the prison. Some even made it to the street and caused commoners to look on and wonder what horrors go on within the prison.

Sorry this took so long to update. I have been working on (and gotten) two certifications for digital marketing. Also trying to create a movie review website, although I've never really been the visual artsy type so I've ended up just playing around with the customization until I saw something that looked good. I don't really expect any cross interaction from here since obviously you all are here to read fanfiction. lol. Once I complete the site I should be semi back to normal in terms of schedule. As much of a schedule as I had in the first place anyway.

I will likely be working on HA, the lilypad, one more chance, and Edd rebirth next. Hopefully they will be worth the wait.